New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday seized a Mercedes car, which it claims belongs to suspended Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze. Sources in the NIA claimed the car contained the original number plate of the explosives-laden Scorpio found abandoned outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence.
They further claimed that the agency recovered Rs 5,75,000 in cash, a note counting machine, a set of clothes and kerosene concealed in its boot.
According to the sources, Waze had allegedly parked the Mercedes in a private parking lot, close to his Mumbai office, from where it was seized and the “incriminating evidence recovered”.
This seizure, sources claimed, points to Waze having planted the Scorpio, which belonged to businessman Mansukh Hiren, outside Antilia, Ambani’s South Mumbai residence.
“The number plate of the Scorpio that was parked outside Ambani’s residence was found to be fake,” a NIA source alleged. “During investigation, we traced the original number of the Scorpio under which it was registered and found that number plate in Waze’s Mercedes parked near his office.
“Along with the Scorpio’s original number plate, 5-6 other number plates too were recovered,” the source claimed. “Moreover, there was Rs 5,75,000 in cash, a note counting machine and a set of clothes.”
The source claimed that it was this set of clothes that Waze wore after he allegedly abandoned the Scorpio outside Ambani’s home.
The diesel and kerosene, sources said, was used to “burn and destroy” the evidence like the clothes Waze wore while planting the car, the source said.
The owner of the Scorpio, Hiren, was found dead inside Mumbra creek on 5 March. Hiren’s wife has accused Waze of killing him; the murder case being investigated by the Mumbai ATS.
Waze is being probed by the NIA in connection with the explosives-laden car found outside Ambani’s home.
He was arrested late Saturday after 11 hours of questioning, in which the NIA confronted him with “technical evidence” it had gathered, sources said.
On Sunday, Waze was remanded to NIA custody until 25 March for further questioning.
Waze has been booked under sections 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy; 286 for negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance; 465 for forgery; 473 for making or possessing counterfeit seal, 506(2) for criminal intimidation and Section 4(a)(b)(I) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
Also read: Mobile mystery in Ambani probe: SUV owner’s phone was 14 km apart in 15 mins day before death
‘Burnt evidence’
According to the same source, the kerosene and diesel seized from the Mercedes were allegedly used by Waze to “burn and destroy” a long kurta and a hoodie that he was allegedly wearing while planting the car outside Ambani’s home.
“He was wearing a long kurta that looked like a cape, a cap, a shield, which he burnt by putting that diesel and kerosene recovered from his car,” the source claimed.
“After he got rid of the clothes and some other things, he concealed the cash and the number plates in his Mercedes car and parked it in a private parking lot,” the source said.
According to the source, after getting rid of those clothes, Waze allegedly wore a fresh pair, which has now been recovered from his Mercedes.
When asked if the NIA has recovered the burnt pieces of the evidence, the source said that the “process is on”.
“Now, we have solid evidence to corroborate that it was Waze who planted the vehicle,” the source claimed. “We are questioning more of his teammates who were involved in the planning along with him. The investigation is on.”
(Edited by Arun Prashanth)
Also read: CCTV footage, fingerprints — NIA’s ‘technical evidence’ against Waze in Ambani threat case
There is a saying YATHA RAJA TATHA PRAJA…it shows how corrupt Maharasthtra govt is…earlier SSR and now this case….how long Maharashtra people elect and select such corrupt politicisns and cops?
Under the rule of street urchins/sadakchaap penguins Mumbai ASI has a Mercedes, if this is not development then what is.
This API is a puppet. The real question is who ordered and conspired him to do that and WHY?
How boring is this? It is a laid trap for this police officer and the police commissioner. Z plus security was sleeping in the job? Which police officer from middle class ,even if he corrupt,puts items like kerosene etc in a Mercedes. One poor fellow lost his life and his family will not know who was responsible.
What happened to that report that Jaish e Hind parked the car ? A fabrication as usual ?
Mumbai Police API owner of a Mercedes. Wow!!!
Now this should also be Investigated. “Disproportionate Wealth”…
How did a police inspector afford a Mercedes?
Interesting, he has alias, somebody is helping him to do d crime, he must have destroyed his one n only evidence his mobile and presented a new one. Good luck guys v don’t want such people in our society, to kill mankind
This investigation brings disrespect to Marathi Pride. Political vendetta against people of Maharashtra.
There you go!
Sounds like he was setup ! Poor chap vaze must be seeing stars and counting the number of betrayals.
NIA HAS AMPLE EVIDENSE TO BOOK WAJE,JUST APPLY THIRD DEGREE AS HE USES ON OTHER CRIMINALS,TO FIND WHO SE BRAIN IS BEHIND,WHICH STILL WAJE TRYING TO HIDE.THIS MVA GOVT HAS DONE ONLY CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES,FOR WHICH THEY ARE HAVING SERIES OF MEETINGS OF SS AND NCP.SURESH
This seems to be like movie story.
Why experienced cop will keep diesel and cash to be later found as evidence… something not digestive.
Really a cop is in possession of mercedes and planting explosive….wow
Overconfidence !
Such an experienced police officer ? Guess he has a bird’s brain ?
Overconfidence ! He thought himself to be invincible just like Raavan but God’s justice may be delayed but happens for sure.
How they can purchase Mercedes they get that much salary.
How one feels killing his own friend for few bucks.
Horrible.
The other fellows Atma is haunting killed long back.
A Police inspector having a Merc…..
How can he afford it…..
A police officer in a Mercedes? Wow. No wonder this guy, waze is in trouble…
What is the point of journalists at theprint when it’s readers are doing the heavy lifting bringing out truth news and opinions by being well read researched analytical pithy to say the least.
Like Karachi police when you were jumping on the suicide bandwagon it was presciently told who was the enforcer.
Now this enforcer is on the ‘suicide’ list it’s only a matter of time.
BJP would do well to see this case through the end. If both short term and long term if executed well Maharashtra will see demise of two political parties for good.
If somehow deshdrohis and Karachi police survive to live another day then it’s ominous and dreadful signs for Mumbai and our nation. They are capable of another 26/11 like mayhem and will blame it on the majority community.
It’s time for operation polo in Mumbai.
Seems u r a faction aanddbhagts.
This guy owns a Mercedes? What is he? Jyoti Malhotra’s husband?
When Shekar Gupta did a CTC on this mystry of finding Gelatin Sticks near Mukhesh Ambani’s home and Sachin Vaze’s high handedness, in YouTube Comment, I had written in lighter vein that this man Vaze intimidated Mansukh Hiren, took his SUV, loaded it with Gelatin Stick, parked the vehicle near Ambani’s home and walked away. None stopped him because of who he was. I am rather surprised that this scenario is turning out to be almost true. Facts can be stranger than fictions or fignemtns of imagination.
Its scary to think how dirty mumbai cops are. The government wanted the people to keep faith on mumbai cops , thankfully the centre didn’t listen if not this dirty cops wouldn’t never would have been caught. How can we trust the cops if they are themselves the culprit. Its only because Ambani are such high-profile people that centre has done NIA investigation or else everything would have been hidden. There should be whole scale action in clearing mumbais dirty cops. The current chief minister is useless puppet.
So this curropt man drives a merc… Wow, it proves everything.
No one ever saw Top Gun driving around town in his Mercedes ?
Jyoti Malhotra, when do we start seeing articles on Vaza saying what a good father, husband, neighbor and son of a school teacher, etc? What’s holding you up? This is your trade, right?